Bowden forms leadership group

College football beat

Bobby Bowden and some of his best players at Florida State have united with business leaders to form the Bowden Foundation for Ethical Leadership, the foundation announced on Wednesday.

Bowden, who will retire from coaching after the Seminoles play West Virginia in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1, has said that he expects to become more involved in civic service and charity after his career in football.

Former FSU standouts Charlie Ward, Corey Simon and Nick Maddox are also a part of the foundation.

The foundation will fund the Bowden Leadership Center and the American Dream Team, which has been created to improve low income neighborhoods and offer help to at-risk children.

The leadership center will focus on training students and executives in ethical leadership principles.

The foundation is attempting to raise $2.5 million to launch the dream team initiative. In a statement, Bowden said, "I'm honored that this group felt strongly enough to create this foundation to allow me to share my principles of life, leadership and success with such a broad audience."

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